GRAPHIC VIDEO: Ferguson Has Been Thrust Into State Of Emergency Once Again!

The anniversary of Michael Brown descended into violence, as the city of Ferguson was thrown once again into chaos as shots suddenly rang out from the crowd of protesters that had gathered to pay tribute to the dead teenager.

The gunfire by an armed assailant targeting police officers was immediately met by return fire, severely wounding the suspect, who was rushed into emergency surgery. The suspect was later identified as 18-year-old Tyrone Harris Junior who was reported to be a close “school friend” Michael Brown.

St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said the man had fired on four undercover police with a stolen handgun.

The incident set off a chain reaction of break-ins and looting by marauding youths who saw an opportunity to once again create mayhem. This immediately prompted St Louis County executive Steve Stenger to respond by declaring a state of emergency following the renewed violence in Ferguson.

Stenger said in a statement that his decision was because of the “criminal unrest” and “attacks on businesses and law enforcement” that had put public safety at risk.

He continued; 'The recent acts of violence will not be tolerated in a community that has worked so tirelessly over the last year to rebuild and become stronger. 'The time and investment in Ferguson and (the neighboring city of) Dellwood will not be destroyed by a few that wish to violate the rights of others.'

Harris is currently being held on a $250,000 cash only bond, and remains in critical condition at a local hospital. Harris's father said shortly after 3am local time that his son had just left emergency surgery, adding that he'd recently graduated from Normandy High School, Missouri - the same school Michael Brown had attended.

Footage shot by protester Tony Rice, who was live-tweeting near a McDonald's showed a black man lying face down on the floor with his hands cuffed behind his back and a large blood stain on his torso.

St Louis Police responded in an MRAD after after the shots were fired at Mike Brown anniversary protest